Workshops

TELL YOUR STORY

Story is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re sharing a story on stage, in a presentation, job interview or on a date, nothing will engage people like a well-crafted story. It’s at the crux of human connection.

Telling your own personal story can be a nerve-wracking and vulnerable experience – even for the most seasoned speaker. I know this first-hand. That's why my #1 goal is to make you feel comfortable.

And as the self-proclaimed Ambassador of Fun, I want you to enjoy the process. Whether we work together in a workshop, class or one-on-one, you can expect each experience to blend a dose of fun with practical, informative and interactive exercises.

Storytelling FUN-0-1 Classes

Think you've got a good story to tell on stage, at a job interview or even on a date? In this class you will:

Learn the 5 essential elements of every story

Discover how to mine your experiences for engaging stories

Generate a bank of story ideas

Structure and develop a 5-7 minute personal story

Share your story during a class performance in front of friends and family

Robin Gelfenbien is uniquely inspired and inspiring. Her sharp instincts and great humanity emerged organically as she helped me find the heart of my story. Robin is as generous as she is gifted. I could not have invented a better collaborator and coach.

— David S. Cohen, Emmy Award-Winning Writer

storytelling for business

There's no more powerful way to connect with people than through true, personal stories. That's why storytelling is so critical to any brand, organization or individual’s success.

WHY STORYTELLING?

A well-crafted story engages people unlike any other method. Whether you're sharing a story in person or in a job application, storytelling has so many practical uses including helping you:

Sharpen your presentation skills

Sell an idea through

Land your next job

Connect to colleagues

About the WorkshopS

Robin Gelfenbien (Yum's the Word) and Michelle Walson (RISK!) offer custom, interactive and fun storytelling workshops for individuals and professionals ranging from a few hours to half day, full day and multi-day sessions. In our introductory workshop, you will learn:

The 5 essential elements of every story

Practical ways to engage your audience in person, online and on social media

How to transform a simple anecdote into an unforgettable story

How to cater your story to various audiences from consumers and potential advertisers to colleagues and senior management

How brands can create a compelling story through various channels that will not only captivates an audience, but drive them to action

I have to present (often externally to C-level marketing execs) several times a week at Google, and I’ve incorporated best practices and techniques that I learned from Michelle into presentations that would have been sterile or jumbled otherwise.”

— Dave Bledin, Global Head of Audience & Data, Google

Robin and Michelle ran an engaging and interactive workshop for a large group of our salespeople and marketers. We had fun developing storytelling skills and learning how they can benefit our selling strategies and client communication.

— Susan Joyce, Marketing Director, Parents Magazine

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Robin Gelfenbienbegan her career behind the wheel of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, which, as you can imagine, provided her with countless stories. Today she is the Host and Creator of the live storytelling show and podcast, Yum’s the Word, that features her homemade ice cream cakes.

The show has been named one of the “5 Best Storytelling Series in NYC” by CBS and a Time Out New York Comedy Critic’s Pick. As a comedic storyteller, she's appeared at The Moth, RISK!, Mortified and more and hosted a show at the Kennedy Center.

Robin was a Featured Speaker at New York Social Media Week for a session on storytelling and business, and she has hosted storytelling workshops for NYU, She’s the First, schools and more.

As a Creative Director/Copywriter, Robin has spent over two decades creating compelling stories for Colgate, Raisinets, Bertolli, SundanceTV, Food Network, Vera Wang and more. She has also worked at VaynerMedia, Ogilvy, Y&R, McCann developing digital campaigns, videos, branded content and social media programs for their clients. Robin has a B.S. degree in Marketing & Television/Radio/Film - Writing from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University.

Not a single moment wasted in this highly engaging, practical and yes, FUN, storytelling workshop. I literally could have gone on for another four hours. Thank you for sharing your mastery, enthusiasm and helpful guidance.

— Shana Lory, Leadership Facilitator, Citi

Robin’s storytelling workshop was a highlight of the She’s the First Leadership Summit! She gave our students an opportunity to laugh, share and learn how to tell more compelling stories - a skill they’ll use as advocates and beyond.

— Katie Riley, Executive Producer, She’s the First Summit

Michelle creates a friendly and collaborative environment that provides you with the tools to shape a better story. With this attention to detail, you’re able to become a more influential storyteller at work, in your work, and even your personal life.”

— Eve Pollet, Saatchi & Saatchi

Michelle Walson is the founding producer of the live storytelling show and podcast, RISK!, which gets over 1.1 million downloads every month and has been hailed as one of the best podcasts of 2015 by iTunes. From SNL’s Rachel Dratch and The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi to professionals from IBM, Google, Time and Saatchi & Saatchi, she has spent the past seven years helping people hone their true stories for performances and presentations.

Michelle has taught storytelling at The Peoples Improv Theater, The Story Studio and The Women in Comedy Festival, and her students have won Moth StorySLAMS, performed solo shows and published memoirs.

With an MFA in Film Production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, an MS in Television Production from Boston University and a BA in Creative Writing from Brown University, all of her degrees have prepared her to help others express their stories across various media.

She lives with her husband and 2-year-old son in Park Slope, and she tells a mean bedtime story.

On a recent business trip abroad, I weaved in personal stories throughout my presentations to both large and intimate-sized audiences. The feedback was extremely positive, and I know the personal stories made all the difference.

I credit Michelle and the class for giving me the skills and the confidence to do it.”

— Amy Swotinsky, Director of Marketing, IBM

CONTACT

We can cater our workshops to whatever you or your organization needs. For information on personal and professional storytelling workshops, please contact Robin.